Live data from Hacker News

Doctors want ban on prescription drug, device advertisements

arstechnica.com

41–50 of 329 posts

Re: Doctors want ban on prescription drug, device advertisements

#41
Such a ban would probably be damaging to many publicly traded companies (not just in health care, but also media and related) that are large components of the Health Care index funds and even broader market index funds sitting in Americans' retirement accounts... which might make this difficult to accomplish politically. (Aside from constitutionality issues, etc.)

Re: Doctors want ban on prescription drug, device advertisements

#42

I've never understood the logic behind prescription drug ads. The first rule of sales is to pitch the decision maker. You can't buy prescription drugs without a doctor's authorization, so basically the ads are asking people to go beg their doctors for medicine they may, or may not, need. The doctor, in turn, may give in to the patient's emotional pleas, since they are, in effect, in a customer service business. This…

> The first rule of sales is to pitch the decision maker. You can't buy prescription drugs without a doctor's authorization, so basically the ads are asking people to go beg their doctors for medicine they may, or may not, need. The doctor, in turn, may give in to the patient's emotional pleas, since they are, in effect, in a customer service business. This would be an ethical violation. I think most of these ads are…

Some of them.

Others are so brutally generic that they could apply to almost anyone: "Do you feel tired regularly? Have trouble getting going? Talk to your doctor about xxx".

Whilst I realize a lot of this is coded talk for "Do you suffer depression?" for people who might not have realized or be willing to acknowledge it as such, the sheer number of conditions for which "lethargy" is a symptom...

Re: Doctors want ban on prescription drug, device advertisements

#43
post #9

This is an issue for both doctors and pharmaceutical companies. Doctors hate it because patients may want a drug that's not optimal for them (but I saw if on TV) and it's bad for pharmaceuticals because they've had to become marketing machines, investing massive amounts of money into advertising and sales apps. The biggest issue with an outright ban is consumer education. Someone, something, or some organization need…

> Someone, something, or some organization needs to be responsible for properly communicating and educating consumers on a drug, its benefits, and its negatives. We call those people doctors . > patients may want a drug that's not optimal for them (but I saw if on TV) A doctor that ever caves to such a request is a terrible doctor.

To be fair, the pharmacists should also be aware of major drug facts and interactions. But by the time you're talking to one of them, you already have a prescription anyway so...

Re: Doctors want ban on prescription drug, device advertisements

#44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, because a free market gives its consumers what they want and even rational people will take opiates over a constructive life

because a free market gives its consumers what they want and even rational people will take opiates over a constructive life And? If that's their preference who are you (or I, etc.) to say otherwise?

See: tragedy of the commons, positive externalities, etc. etc.

Even the most staunch libertarian has to agree that personal choices which negatively effect society must have some sort of curtailing policy to make whole those effected

Re: Doctors want ban on prescription drug, device advertisements

#45

I've never understood the logic behind prescription drug ads. The first rule of sales is to pitch the decision maker. You can't buy prescription drugs without a doctor's authorization, so basically the ads are asking people to go beg their doctors for medicine they may, or may not, need. The doctor, in turn, may give in to the patient's emotional pleas, since they are, in effect, in a customer service business. This…

Flip side is that it's vile that we need a "doctor's authorization" to even buy chemicals. While there certainly should be regulation to curb abusive advertising (e.g. fraud), it's sad anyone would find it wrong to ask a doctor for drugs. The way things are set up, that's exactly what many people are forced to do. Also, nitpick, but the news and ads in general are almost certainly far more harmful (for your daughter;…

Antibiotics are an obvious counter example to this.

Re: Doctors want ban on prescription drug, device advertisements

#46
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Disturbingly easy to get class II drugs without any proof of need.

I have no direct experience seeking a prescription, but I do know a doctor who has repeatedly complained to me about patients coming to him with the expectation of receiving a particular drug. He's considered giving up his DEA license to reduce this problem.

One I see in the field as a paramedic?

"Any drug allergies?"

"Aspirin, Tylenol, Tramadol, etc"

"Oh, so you're allergic to 'all' non-narcotic pain medication? That must be ... inconvenient."

Re: Doctors want ban on prescription drug, device advertisements

#47

I've never understood the logic behind prescription drug ads. The first rule of sales is to pitch the decision maker. You can't buy prescription drugs without a doctor's authorization, so basically the ads are asking people to go beg their doctors for medicine they may, or may not, need. The doctor, in turn, may give in to the patient's emotional pleas, since they are, in effect, in a customer service business. This…

I do think advertisements make a difference. For example for a given health condition if the advertisement says X is cutting edge, then automatically the patient who receives something else from this doctor would think he is not receiving the best medication possible.

This also explains why VISA and MasterCard advertise so much when you as a consumer simply take whatever the bank offers you.

Re: Doctors want ban on prescription drug, device advertisements

#48
post #6

I would support such a ban. But mostly so that watching the nightly news without being able to skip commercials would be more palatable.

Get ready for more Draft Kings one day fantasy duel promo code: GambleYourFamilysMoneyAway.

There is that. It is interesting to see how television in particular seems to have lost a lot of advertising diversity, excluding advertising for other shows on the same network, these days just drugs, cars, lawyers, and pay-to-play games, with the occasional movie trailer for good measure. Bad news for television networks.

Re: Doctors want ban on prescription drug, device advertisements

#50
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you ever sought a particular prescription from a doctor? Many general practitioners in the United States are glorified drug dealers. You will probably get whatever you ask for if you can afford the copay.

Disturbingly easy to get class II drugs without any proof of need.

This is a good thing in one way. People should be free to buy chemicals at will. The disturbing part is that it's a forced tax paid to doctors to get RX's written each month.

Even worse, this further kills equality. A worker desiring to boost performance can easily afford top-notch medicines -- speed's only $20 a month for a starting dose at a pharmacy. But the prescription alone can be 10x that, and sometimes may be required every month. Not to mention the cost of a higher-end doctor that will assist customers. Poorer patients are thus denied medicine, creating a negative feedback loop.

Post reply on HN